Praxis Discussion Series

It's now well established that a quality education can offer a vital leg-up in life....but are we getting it right for those in the developing world? Which skills are most valuable in a changing world? How do we ensure education quality and relevance, for children and adults and those who have missed out? This is a discussion on education and skills, featuring three experts.

Oceans are our life blood. They cover 71 percent of the Earth's surface and provide half of our oxygen, much of our food and regulate climate, and are a vital source of income and livelihoods in Pacific Island countries. But our oceans are at risk. They have been hurt by overfishing, pollution and climate change, and 85 per cent of the world's fisheries are now depleted or worse. In February, World Bank President Robert Zoellick called for a huge coordinated global initiative, an SOS to "Save Our Seas". This is a discussion about marine conservation and development - part of the Praxis Discussion Series 2012.

We're considering a number of pressing questions relating to development effectiveness on the back of the Australian Aid Review, as Australia looks to increase its aid budget to 0.5% of its national income by 2015. Does aid work? Does it reach the poorest people? What are the most effective channels for delivering aid? AND how do we make aid work better? This is part of the Praxis Discussion Series, 2012.

Jobs, or the lack of them, is one of the most pressing issues of our time in both developed and developing countries. In developed economies unemployment is soaring; in developing countries the number of young people is on the rise; a lack of access to good jobs, particularly among youth, has played a role in recent social unrest and protests. What drives job creation? How do we support sustainable livelihoods in rural as well as urban areas? What role do education and migration play in this debate? This is a discussion about jobs, poverty and livelihoods in the developing world.

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While some gender gaps have closed many remain -- even in rich countries. Nearly four million women are "missing" each year in developing countries; women are more likely to be unpaid for the work they do; women everywhere tend to earn less than men; violence against women remains prevalent and in most countries women participate less in formal politics. The challenges are real, the need to act immense. Steps must be made to address the root causes of gender gaps, eliminate gender disadvantage and limit the reproduction of gender inequality across generations. The challenges and nature of the task ahead are the focus of the discussion.

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Fair, effective and legitimate justice institutions underpin access to resources and essential services, and are therefore a key focus for development. The question is how, and in what forms, these institutions can and should be supported.

For men and women throughout the developing world, the chance to run a business or get a good job can offer a way out of poverty. In almost all developing countries, most new jobs are created by the private sector. But, creating the kind of environment to support this opportunity requires wide-ranging efforts, especially in the countries of the Pacific. The question for development is how to build a more inclusive and sustainable private sector while overcoming poverty; how to enhance growth with care for the environment, and create opportunity, particularly for the world’s poor.

Since June 2010, rising and volatile food prices have driven 44 million more people into extreme poverty. Three quarters of the world's poor live in rural areas, and most are involved in farming. For this reason, bolstering agriculture in developing countries will be critical in efforts to reduce poverty and hunger, and achieving broader growth. World Bank President Robert Zoellick recently called for the G20 to "put food first", stating that "food accounts for a large and increasingly volatile share of family budgets... When prices of staple foods soar, poor countries and poor people bear the brunt." Features Jon Edwards from Action Aid Australia, 'Alopi Latukefu from AusAID and Bill Pritchard from the University of Sydney.

Health-related Millennium Development Goals have proved to be among the most challenging to achieve, especially in terms of reducing child and maternal mortality rates. Most regions of the world are off track. Every year nearly 11 million children die before the age of five and every day 1,000 women die as a result of pregnancy and childbirth. Most of these deaths are from easily preventable causes, and the vast majority occur in developing countries. Over recent years there has been increased collaboration on health, resulting in a growing number of partnerships between the public and private sectors. However, there needs to be continued commitment and investment to ensure that women and children across the world can access their right to health. Features Dr. Nicole Wong Doo from the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Mahboba Rawi OAM, the Founder of Mahboba's Promise and Dr. Nesrin Varol from the University of Sydney.

There are nine million people scattered across the Pacific region, which spans one third of the globe’s surface but accounts for less than two percent of its land. In development terms it is one of the most diverse regions in the world. However there is a common set of challenges – geographical isolation, underemployment, shortage of infrastructure and high vulnerability to climate change, to name only a few. All of these present considerable constraints for development. But with improvement in a few key areas many Pacific Island States could see improved growth and quality of life for their populations. Features Rob Jauncey from the World Bank, Caleb Jarvis from Pacific Trade and Invest, and Daniel Rowland from the University of Sydney.